Photo Issues!!

There seems to be a problem here in Japan with the ability to post pictures. Unfortuntely, I can't upload any at the moment while we are in Nagoya... so I guess you will have to settle for words!!

We have wrapped up our stay in Beijing with the trip to the Bell Tower and the traditional Chinese neighborhood called a hudong. These are the types of "old" neighborhoods that you will find the courtyard type of houses and the people all living close depending on each other for support and social time... you don't find too many young folks living in these neighborhoods because they have all moved to the city for the apartments and condo living. The older folks that stay behind can't imagine ever leaving the hudong. This is their way of life and they would be lost if they ever had to leave. The day for an older Chinese person is exercise in the morning (think Tai Chi), grocery shopping, cooking and socializing with their friends - why would they ever want to leave their home?
Saturday evening, we flew to Japan landing in Nagoya (4th largest city). Sunday morning, we traveled to the Nagoya Castle in the morning and then to the Meiji Architectural Museum for lunch and the afternoon. Made it back to the hotel for a short rest and then the shopping commenced! You talk about some fashions here!! Short shorts are the style and hats are everywhere. But not just any hats... wool hats, fur hats, happy face hats, you name it, you got it!! No, I did not buy any hats!!
Today, we visited two schools here in Nagoya - the junior high school (junior consists of 7th, 8th, and 9th) and the upper high school (10th, 11th and 12th). The kids are simply wonderful! They are friendly, happy and so very sweet and thoughtful! We had a traditional Tea served to us by the Tea Club where the kids learn the tea ceremony ways of old. Gift giving is very big here in Japan and their faces lit up when we exchanged our gifts to thank our hosts for their incredible hospitality. Then we traveled back to the city and our hotel for a dinner and continued discussion about the possibilties for information exchange (I would really love to see face to face exchanges!!)... who's up for that?? I have tons of photos for all of this, I only wish that I could access them to show you!!
Please be patient about picture posting and maybe in the next couple of days (once we are in Kyoto) I can really put some photos out here for you to see!!